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The English side together with Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a group once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on that side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages.

Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw

Pool A

• New Zealand
• Australia
• Chile
• Hong Kong

Pool B

• South Africa
• Italy
• Georgia
• Romania

Pool C

• Argentina
• Fiji
• Spain
• Canada

Pool D

• Ireland
• Scotland
• Uruguay
• Portugal

Pool E

• France
• Japan
• USA
• Samoa

Pool F

• England
• Wales
• Tonga
• Zimbabwe